POLITICAL NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10598, 29 October 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

By Telegraph. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, October 28. —The Meikle Case. — The Prime Minister was questioned in Parliament yesterday by Mr li. A. Wright regarding the Government's intention to iutioduec legislation bearing j upon the wrongful conviction of A- JMeikle. Sir Joseph stated that it was difficult to legislate, in addition to which Mr Meikle had personally informed him quite recently that he did nut favor legislation, but wished an amount of money paid to him. He proposed to ask the House to agree to a \ote to Meikle which would be placed on the Supplemental y Estimates. —The Harbois Bill The Canteibury member*} who conferred at the suggestion of Mr Davej and , agi ee,d as to the representation basis' £b be inserted In the schedule of the ,llarbors* Bill came" in. foi "a 'deal this morning, hen members from othei commenced to w rauglc, over the "disposition ol the seats in their harboi area. _ The Minister reported prdgrers to facilitate an .agreement on'the iiomts, -and speaking to *a reporter; to-da-v he state/1 that it membois proposed to fight out their difTerences in Committee • he ' would drop the Bill. Members }iad had , since Afuly 8 to consider the "schedules. —Aii-Eaily Rising— v

Inspired by a promise ficm the JL'nme Minister that he would only take the first eight lLems on the oidoi paper., and then adjourn, the House achieved the lemaikablc lecordfor this time of the session by rising at 11 o'clock to-night In ten minutes it parsed foui Bills thiongh Comnvttee jlikl tliird leadings, which might at •rotliei time, owing to the captious iisti'ic? ol legislatois, have ocoirpied 10 bum The House will sit again at 230 p it. on "Monday Government House

WhaL i.'., the icsult of th<* investigation into th • condition of Government House 3 " I'ked Mr Heidman to-night "Can't the Gceinoi leside theie with s-af ty'-'"

The Pi inic Mimstci replied that as a doubt had ansen regarding the diams tho\ were all being leasammed While the> weie up it woull not be desirable •foi the* Go\emoi or his staff to leliiain in lesidence there He nndeistoo/1 that his Excellency pioposed to letui n to Government House in 10 days oi a fjrtnisjht 111 Masscy asked if hie extinguishing epphances .tore provided at Govern men fc House

Si. J< scph W?r'd They aie outside tho H'yciA}, and it is now proposed, to hj tliem inside. Tho house is insured.

—Art Union Permits.— A detailed statement of the number of licenses to hold raffles (art unions) .'during the last five years has been obtained by Mr T. Buxton, Geraldine. •Altogether 1294 permits were issued, :n----cludiiig 343 to various churches; the allocation being as follows : »

Tctcls ..'.IS 71 251 5 One permit was granted during 190S t<. the Weslejari denomination. , —Lards for Settlement. — A return showing the sections of land eMhor Crown land or land for settlement "opened during each of 'the -last liv 3 j wi v. as presented to Parliament joatcrdny. with the numbers of applicants or successful applicants. The return, v.hicli is as follows, refers to lajul OerAi with under settlement conditions o:ih :

Several -blocks of second-class land -"n adiition were ottered prior to survey into specific allotments.

Year Not Clrarch Roman Presbyriated. of Eng. Cntholic. terian. IP/06 ... 4 12 • '62 - ' 1 ]f)l)7 ■ ... 3 10 45 ' 0 irr,s . 1 10 ' '-' m 1 Lf'DD ..: 4" •■ 15.',-" -42 1 V)i'{) ■' .'.■►./. /IS, ': 5G 2

Year. .'•'Sections'.; -AppliSuccessful ■'•cants. applicants 1908 ■ ... 1794 8600 1435 1907 ... . 940 7548 1281 1903 . ..1237 12,901 1290 1909'. : ../• 2712 ■■■'i.-.7658'' 1218 1910,:. .■;-.■ looo v "9646 . ;■ 1338